Malandrino Looks Something Special

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• Malandrino Looks Something Special

• Great Return from Green Supreme

• Little Bridge Claims HK-3 Bauhinia Sprint

Malandrino Looks Something Special

Talented three-year-old Malandrino (NZ) hinted at bigger things on Saturday with a brilliant performance at Awapuni in the $70,000 Group 3 Higgins Manawatu Classic (2000m).

Trained by Murray Baker, Malandrino (Darci Brahma x Staryn Glenn) could not have been more impressive with jockey James McDonald aboard, racing handy during the trip and tearing away from his rivals to win his first stakes race by two-and-a-half-lengths.

McDonald declared after the race that Malandrino was "something special and will go right to the top."

In just a short career, the three-year-old ran fifth in the Listed Championship Stakes Prelude (2100m) in December last year before being given a break from the track. He made a winning return, beating the older horses with 59 kilograms, at Waipa on March 13 at his last start.

Plans for the three-year-old are yet to be confirmed but a late entry to the Group 1 AJC Derby has not been ruled out. The Group 1 South-Australian Derby is also on the cards.

Bred and sold by Graham & Helen-Gaye Bax, Malandrino is raced by JML Bloodstock Ltd and was purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Blandford Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $95,000. His seven starts have netted three wins and two placings for over $55,000 in stakes.

Malandrino is the fourth stakes winner for his sire Darci Brahma whose progeny had an excellent weekend on the track with Super Easy winning the Sgp-3 3YO Sprint in Singapore. Darci Brahma sired his first Group 1 winner two weeks ago with Artistic winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.

Darci Brahma currently heads the New Zealand Sires' Premiership by 3YO winners with 17, three clear of O'Reilly on 14.

Great Return from Green Supreme

Saturday's Awapuni meeting was packed with eye-catching performances and few came better than that of Green Supreme in the $50,000 Listed Fairdale/Goodwood Studs Flying Handicap (1400m).

Bringing up the stakes double for jockey James McDonald, Green Supreme (Oasis Dream x Haibah) came from near last at the 600 metres and flew home on the outside of the field, making up many lengths on the breakaway race leaders, to claim his first black-type race by a length.

The win was the five-year-old's first at a distance less than 1600 metres, making it all the more impressive given that he beat a field full of well-credentialed sprinters.

Green Supreme put together three wins earlier in the season culminating with an impressive victory in the Dunstan Feeds Championship Final (2200m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.

His trainer Graham Richardson is keen to give the son of Oasis Dream his shot at Group 1 level and will send the five-year-old to the Group 1 Easter Handicap at Ellerslie on April 14.

Bred by Bob Emery, Green Supreme was purchased by Magus Equine from Belvedere Farm at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2008 Karaka Premier Sale for $440,000. His 18 career starts have seen him take five wins for just shy of $130,000 in stakes.

Little Bridge Claims HK-3 Bauhinia Sprint

The five-year-old sprinter Little Bridge (NZ) claimed the eighth victory of his career last night at Sha Tin winning the HK-3 HKJC Bauhinia Sprint Trophy (1000m).

Racing prominently in the hands of jockey Zac Purton, Little Bridge (Faltaat x Gold Brose) was too slick for his rivals over the 1000 metre trip, taking the lead 100 metres from home and racing away to a two-and-a-quarter-length victory.

Trained by Danny Shum, Little Bridge's eight career victories include three at black-type level. The son of Faltaat won the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint in November, the main lead-up race for the Hong Kong Sprint where he ran a creditable fourth, and the HK-3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup in January 2011.

Bred by Llanhennock Trust, Little Bridge was purchased by Margaret Harkema from Wentwood Grange at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 National Weanling Sale for $9,000. He has now won over HK$9.5 million (NZ$1.5 million) in stakes.

ENDS

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